Darren Oxley jailed for 30 years for rape and extreme violence
A 'highly dangerous' rapist who showed 'extreme levels of violence and sexual aggression towards women' was jailed for 30 years. Darren Oxley repeatedly raped and sexually abused his victims, leaving one with a broken jaw after pushing her down the stairs and forcing his knee into her face. He also broke her jaw and forced her head into a fish tank, fracturing her eye socket. Another time, he forced a woman's head into a microwave and slammed the door on her face, breaking her nose. He headbutted another victim and injured her hand by forcing it into a top-loading washing machine filled with boiling water. The historic offences came to light in 2023 when one of the women bravely contacted police. Oxley, 54, of St Thomas Court, Darlington, was charged with 20 offences, including six counts of rape, three of indecent assault, two of unlawful wounding, and nine of assault causing actual bodily harm. He denied the offences but was convicted by a jury at Durham Crown Court. He was jailed for 30 years and placed on the sex offenders' register for life.
Mohamed Harun jailed for seven-and-a-half years for rape
A rapist who forced himself on a vulnerable stranger he met in a park told a judge 'f*** England' as he was jailed. Mohamed Harun's victim went from having a 'great day' to the 'worst day of my life' after falling victim to the sex predator. The trusting victim thought she had met a new friend but once in his flat, he showed his true colours. Harun denied raping the woman but he was convicted by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court. The 32-year-old, formerly of Roker Avenue, Sunderland, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years.
Riley Robinson locked up for wounding with intent and dangerous driving
A teenager left a man with a horrific injury by deliberately driving at him and pinning him against a wall. Riley Robinson and others turned up at the victim's home because they 'had an issue' with him, before the then-17-year-old decided to use his car as a weapon. Robinson was originally charged with attempted murder. Prosecutors accepted his guilty pleas to wounding with intent and dangerous driving. He was sent to a young offender's institution for 30 months.
Masked raiders jailed for 'horrifying' shop robbery
Masked raiders armed with a knife are behind bars after carrying out a 'horrifying' shop robbery. Devlin Wooton, who brandished a long blade, and Reece Brown, who acted as look-out, terrified staff at a convenience store then made off with a pack of lager. Newcastle Crown Court heard the pair had gone into the Premier Convenience Store in Southwick, Sunderland, on January 28. Wooton, 24, admitted robbery and having a bladed article and was jailed for five years. Brown, 25, who said he went into the shop only to steal and was not aware of Wooton's knife, admitted robbery and was jailed for four-and-a-half years.
Abubaka Wahed jailed for GBH and strangulation
A violent thug smacked his former partner over the head and throttled her until she passed out. Abubaka Wahed subjected the woman to a terrifying attack while she was visiting his home. Newcastle Crown Court heard that the victim was at his flat. She had a seizure while there and he did nothing to help her, even callously laughing at her at one point. When an argument later broke out, he punched her, applied pressure to her throat with his hand until she lost consciousness and slammed her head repeatedly into a wall. When she tried to leave, he hit her to the head with a hammer and she was left bleeding from a wound and also had swelling to the area. While on bail for that attack, he attacked a man who intervened in an altercation between them, punching him in the face three times and leaving him with a fracture to his nose and a black eye. The man said Wahed stamped or stood on his shoulder while he was on the ground and he was left bleeding and distressed. Wahed, 33, of Merlay Hall, Walker, Newcastle, was found guilty after a trial of GBH with intent and intentional strangulation on the woman and assault occasioning actual bodily harm on the man. He was jailed for five-and-a-half years.
Gang jailed for £460,000 car theft spree
Porsches, Mercedes and BMWs were among the £460,000 haul stolen by a gang of thieves. A series of homes across Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland were targeted during a spate of offences spanning an eight-week period. Newcastle Crown Court heard many of the cars were found soon afterwards having been fitted with false registration plates. Daniel Dixon, Dylan Marshall and Aiden McMahon pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle and Dixon and Marshall also admitted to conspiracy to steal during the crimewave in October and November 2024. They pleaded guilty on a basis that they were not all involved in all of the offences. Marshall also admitted a burglary in Whitley Bay, in which a Range Rover Evoque and other items were stolen. He also admitted handling stolen goods, driving while disqualified, affray and criminal damage. Dixon, 26, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years. Marshall, 21, was locked up for eight-and-a-half years. McMahon, 27, was jailed for three years.
Jamie Devlin jailed for cocaine dealing
A drug dealer jailed eight years ago was found to be at it again when police pulled him over on suspicion of a driving offence. Jamie Devlin, who said he had £1,000 of cocaine for a weekend away with friends, had been jailed for 28 months in 2018 for possessing the same drugs with intent to supply. On May 19 last year, police spotted him in a car on Scotswood Road, Newcastle. He was linked to the car and marked as being disqualified from driving so police decided to pull him over, Newcastle Crown Court heard. Devlin, who had a passenger, was found to be in possession of various quantities of cocaine in grip-seal bags. There were 23 0.5g deals and 14 1g deals, said to be worth around £1,000. He pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with intent to supply on the basis of social supply, saying he was going away for the weekend with three friends and it was for them all to use. That basis was accepted although a judge noted it was on a Monday when he was caught with the drugs. The 32-year-old, of Berry Edge Road, Consett, County Durham, was jailed for 14 months.
Declan Fahey jailed for GBH with intent
A vigilante was put behind bars after using a flatbed truck to cause serious injuries to a teenager by ramming him off a quad bike which had been stolen from his friend. Declan Fahey took the law into his own hands while out in County Durham looking for the quad bike which had gone missing the night before. When he spotted it, with a number of people riding it without helmets, including the 16-year-old victim, the usually law-abiding 'good man' saw red. Newcastle Crown Court heard he pursued the quad bike before deliberately ramming it, intending to cause serious injury. The teenager suffered multiple fractures, including to his skull, face and thigh bone. Fahey, who later said 'it was his own fault', denied causing GBH with intent but was convicted by a jury. Fahey, 27, of Windsor Court, Croxdale, County Durham, was jailed for 42 months.
Steven Riach jailed for burglary
A burglar who crept into a stranger's bedroom as he slept told him 'I'm off' as he left the house with his bike. The victim had been asleep in bed in the early hours when he was disturbed by a noise and saw Steven Riach standing in the doorway to his room. Newcastle Crown Court heard Riach falsely claimed he had gone in after noticing that the door was open at the house but was then heard looking in two other rooms before shouting: 'I'm off'. By the time the victim got dressed, Riach was already out of the house, with the £700 bike. Riach, 42, of Simonside Terrace, Heaton, Newcastle, admitted burglary. He was sentenced to 22 months behind bars.
Kevin Hubbard jailed for causing death by dangerous driving
A dangerous HGV driver, Kevin Hubbard, was jailed for a second time over a horrific dual carriageway collision. Royal Navy veteran Hubbard was locked up for two years in 2016 for causing serious injuries to Keith Jamieson, who was trying to fix a Ford Transit van on the A19 in County Durham when Hubbard's truck careered into it after failing to notice it was stationary during around ten seconds of inattention. Mr Jamieson suffered catastrophic neck and spinal fractures which left him paralysed from the neck down in the 2014 crash. After almost ten years of bed-ridden suffering, Mr Jamieson died as a result of his injuries or complications arising from them, aged 71, in April 2024. In June, Hubbard, 67, of Lichfield Road, Sunderland, previously jailed for two years for causing serious injury by dangerous driving, who admitted causing death by dangerous driving after Mr Jamieson died, was back at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced again, ten years on. Judge Gittins said the sentence would have been 44 months but he subtracted the two year sentence he had already served and jailed him for 20 months.
Donna English jailed for 13 years for chemical attack
A mother will never again see her children properly after her former friend sprayed a corrosive chemical into her eyes in a shocking attack. Donna English repeatedly squirted what is suspected to have been ammonia at the woman before carrying out her sinister threat to 'get you in your eyes'. Newcastle Crown Court heard the victim had been left permanently blind in one eye and has vastly reduced and blurry vision in the other. She is now unable to look after herself or her children and said it breaks her heart that she will not be able to see them properly ever again. English, 41, of Carly Road, Sunderland, was found guilty after a trial of inflicting GBH with intent and was jailed for 13 years.
Wayne Layburn jailed for cocaine dealing
A cocaine dealer who peddled 'short-lived highs for long-term misery' was locked up. Wayne Layburn was in a bedroom in a house raided by the police, who found cocaine, cash and several mobile phones on December 4 last year. Investigations revealed Layburn had been involved in dealing the drug, Newcastle Crown Court heard. Judge Tim Gittins said Layburn turned to using drugs after a family tragedy and quickly ran up a £2,000 debt. The judge said: 'With no prospects of repaying that, and being assaulted for your trouble, you were forced to act as an agent for your dealer.' Judge Gittins said it was a 'busy, street level supply dealership', supplying to tens if not hundreds of customers. Layburn, 28, of Bridge Road, North Shields, admitted being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug between October 26 and December 5 last year. He was locked up for two years and eight months.
Michael Gill jailed for causing serious injury by dangerous driving
A delivery driver was left with life-changing head injuries when he was run over trying to stop a drug addict stealing his vehicle. The victim was working hard earning an honest living in the lead up to Christmas last year when he had the misfortune to cross paths with crack cocaine-fuelled serial offender Michael Gill. As the 54-year-old victim went about his business in Sunderland, Gill stole his car, containing 157 parcels and sped away. As the delivery driver ran into the road to try to stop him escaping with what was his own vehicle and livelihood, he was struck by his stolen car and suffered devastating injuries. As he lay unconscious in the foetal position, callous Gill made off, along with an accomplice, sharing out the stolen parcels, without a care for the stricken victim. Gill, 43, of Cairo Street, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, theft, driving while disqualified and having no insurance. He was jailed for three years and seven months.
Olsi Halili jailed for cannabis production
A cannabis farmer entered the UK illegally and began working at a North East grow after getting into £35,000 worth of debt in Albania. Olsi Halili racked up a substantial debt in his home country and decided to enter the UK in search of a 'better life'. But after a period of detention in London and then some time spent homeless, the 28-year-old found himself working as a gardener at a County Durham cannabis farm. The farm was raided by police and Halili was arrested, telling police: 'I'm not a criminal, they forced me.' Halili, of West Chilton Terrace, Chilton, appeared at Durham Crown Court to be sentenced for production of cannabis. He had pleaded guilty to the offence and was jailed for six months.
Daniel Marrinan jailed for shop theft
A prolific thief targeted a Sainsbury's store and stole almost £1,000 worth of goods within a matter of days. Daniel Marrinan targeted the County Durham store a number of times in the space of just over two weeks and mainly stole meat. A court heard the 41-year-old 'ignored' the verbal challenges of staff and instead stuffed his pockets or a bag full of goods. Marrinan appeared at Durham Crown Court to be sentenced for 14 counts of shop theft. He pleaded guilty to the offences and was jailed for 14 months.
Kieron Hardy jailed for burglary
A serial burglar left a mum and her young son terrified less than two weeks after being given a chance by a judge. Repeat offender Kieron Hardy had been given a deferred sentence for attempted burglary, common assault and theft, with a judge giving him an opportunity to prove he could keep out of trouble. But within a couple of weeks he had blown it after breaking into a mum's home in Newcastle while she was inside with her young son. Hardy pleaded guilty to burglary. For that and the earlier offences, he was jailed for 56 months.
Karl Glendenning jailed for robbery and knife possession
A cabbie had a knife swiped at his abdomen and was punched during a terrifying robbery by a customer. The Uber driver had picked up Karl Glendenning and they became involved in a dispute over whether he had been taken to the correct address and whether he would let him pay by cash, as he was trying to do. Rather than resolving that amicably, Glendenning punched the man in the jaw then pulled out a knife with an eight-inch blade. Fearing he would be further attacked, the driver got out, at which point Glendenning moved from the back of the car to the driver's seat. He then swiped his knife towards the abdomen of the driver, who managed to jump out of the way. Glendenning then drove off, running over the man's phone as he did so, Newcastle Crown Court heard. A security system on the car meant he could not get far in it. He also racially insulted the victim and threw a bottle at him which missed. The court heard the driver lost out financially as a result of the attack. Glendenning, 29, of Woodleigh View, Kenton, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to robbery, having a bladed article, racially aggravated harassment and assaulting an emergency worker - he spat at a police officer, but missed. He was sentenced to four years and four months with an extended licence of a further two years.
David McDonald jailed for 10 years for rape
A young girl who stood up to her rapist saw him jailed for 10 years. David McDonald raped the girl when she was a teenager. He was arrested when the girl bravely told a teacher what had happened, and an investigation was launched. The 64-year-old was charged with several offences, including rape and several counts of sexual assault. McDonald, of Newton Aycliffe, denied the offences and went on trial at Durham Crown Court earlier this year where a jury found him guilty of rape. He was acquitted of the other charges. Appearing back at court in June, McDonald was jailed for 10 years.
Colin Finch jailed for attempted murder of wife
A pensioner from Darlington was jailed after he repeatedly stabbed his wife as she slept in a 'horrific' attack. Colin Finch was sentenced for the attempted murder of his partner of over 33 years, with his actions described as an 'abhorrent level of cruelty'. In March this year, the woman awoke in bed in their shared home to Finch, 78, attacking her with a knife, and she was stabbed a total of five times. Half an hour later, he called for an ambulance, explaining that he had 'tried to kill' his wife to the operator. She underwent emergency surgery to save her life after being rushed to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, and Finch was arrested at the scene and charged with attempted murder, which he admitted. He was jailed for eight years and eight months.
David Hoyle jailed for sword possession
A Gateshead yob armed himself with a sword and went patrolling the streets for 'revenge' after being robbed of his gold chain. David Hoyle was seen 'walking with purpose' down a residential street and shouting 'rats' while carrying the weapon. He then passed over the sword to his then-partner, who then threw it over a garden wall before police arrived on scene. When he was arrested, Hoyle claimed he had been robbed by a man wielding the sword who then discarded it. However, a judge dismissed the defendant's claims, and said that while he may have actually been robbed, he likely went back home to fetch the weapon and hit the streets looking for revenge. Hoyle, of Newton Street, Gateshead, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for possession of a blade and possession of cannabis. The 43-year-old pleaded guilty to the offences and was jailed for 25 months.
Craig Ferguson jailed for 11 years for child sexual offences
A 'predatory' child sex offender who sexually assaulted two school-aged girls in Gateshead was jailed for 11 years. Before his 'horrific' offences were reported to trusted professionals, Craig Ferguson, 46, tried to buy the complicity of one of the girls by supplying her with cannabis. The Northumbria Police Safeguarding Department began looking into the crimes, and following what was described as a 'complex investigation', Ferguson was arrested and questioned, denying any wrongdoing, but he was later charged with the offences. Following a six-day trial, Ferguson, of Ulverston Gardens, Gateshead, was found guilty of 10 child sexual offences at Newcastle Crown Court, after previously pleading guilty to possession of cannabis and possession of a bladed article. In June, he was handed the 11-year jail sentence.
Daniel Anderson jailed for burglary
A burglar broke into a Newcastle city centre café and student accommodation within days of each other. Daniel Anderson stole headphones, a backpack, cash and other belongings after breaking into Tiny Tiny in February this year. He was soon arrested and released on bail, but within days broke into a city centre student flat and stole a PlayStation and games. The 48-year-old was put behind bars in June. Anderson appeared at Newcastle Moot Hall to be sentenced for two counts of burglary. He had pleaded guilty to the offences and was jailed for 876 days.
Cory Lavery jailed for assault
A thug told his partner he would smash her ribs in during a nine-hour attack. Cory Lavery subjected the woman to a prolonged assault in which he punched her to the face and body and grabbed her throat. Lucy Todd, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court the victim had been living with a male in Newcastle and had asked him if Lavery could stay at the address. She said Lavery, 31, had started arguing with the woman after drinking alcohol. The prosecutor said the male witnessed the attack but he did not get involved. She said: 'He was scared the defendant would assault him'. Lavery, of no fixed address, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm on the day he was due to go on trial. He was sentenced to 25 months behind bars.
Philip Rutherford jailed for 11 years for stabbing ex-partner
A thug repeatedly stabbed his former partner with kitchen scissors after breaking into her home. Philip Rutherford climbed into the woman's property after throwing a garden table through her window. Newcastle Crown Court heard how the 35-year-old punched and stamped on the woman and pulled her into the kitchen by her feet. When he went to grab a knife, she went for it first and they ended up fighting over the blade. Emma Dowling, prosecuting, told the court: 'He armed himself with kitchen scissors as a weapon and stabbed her about 10 times. He hit her back and chest and face and arms.' She said the woman's eight-year-old daughter was present at the time and escaped through the window of the property in Gateshead. Rutherford then got off the woman, who was bleeding heavily, and she fled her own home. Rutherford, of Hamilton Court, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, two counts of attempted robbery and having an offensive weapon. He was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison and a further five years on licence - a total of 16 years and three months.
Kieran Rooney jailed for wounding with screwdriver
A North East man wounded his partner after throwing a screwdriver at her during a row on Valentine's Day. Kieran Rooney caused a wound to the woman's leg after throwing the tool in her direction on February 14. A court heard that Rooney did not intent to hit her with the screwdriver, but was 'reckless' in doing so. The 31-year-old received a six-month prison sentence. Rooney, of Stuart Walk, Shotton Colliery, County Durham, appeared at Durham Crown Court to be sentenced for section 20 assault. He had pleaded guilty to the offence. The judge sentenced Rooney to six months prison but due to time already served on remand, he was to be released immediately.
Wayne Justice jailed for harassment
A man who left his ex-partner suffering from panic attacks was jailed for harassing her and bombarding her with unwanted calls. In 2023, Wayne Justice was made the subject of an indefinite restraining order banning any contact with his former partner. But this year, Justice used an anonymous Facebook account to contact her. The 44-year-old then began hounding her with calls, which left her feeling 'ill'. Justice, of North Parade, Whitley Bay, appeared at Newcastle Moot Hall to be sentenced for breaching a restraining order and harassment. He had pleaded guilty to the offences and was jailed for two years.
Josef Badzo and Filip Badzo jailed for assault
Two brothers were jailed for their part in a targeted Newcastle assault which left their victims seriously injured. Police were alerted to a disturbance outside an address in Fenham. Officers were swiftly deployed to Deanham Gardens where two male victims – aged in their 40s and 20s – were found with serious injuries. Those involved had already fled the area – prompting the city's Serious Organised Crime Investigation Team to launch an investigation. Their enquiries soon revealed that a group of people had arrived at the residential property in two cars earlier on. Three of the men present have then become involved in an altercation with two occupants outside of the home. CCTV footage recovered nearby showed three offenders, including brothers Filip and Josef Badzo, use bodily force as well as bricks and a baseball bat during the fight in the street. The trio were arrested and, while they denied being in the area at the time, detectives were able to place their phones and vehicles at the scene. Both Filip and Josef Badzo were later charged with two counts of grievous bodily harm and one count of violent disorder each – along with a third man who will be sentenced for two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and one count of violent disorder at a later date. The duo, both of Colston Street in Newcastle, repeatedly denied their involvement but were found guilty by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court. Filip Badzo, now 19, and Josef Badzo, now 24, were each handed a three-year prison sentence.
Ashley Hope jailed for stalking
A stalker who pitched a tent near a woman's home left her feeling constantly watched after regularly turning up at her door. Ashley Hope was living in a tent in his mother's Ashington garden when he began stalking a woman who lived nearby. Hope began knocking on the woman's door several times a day, offered her items, and then set up a number of Facebook accounts in order to try and contact her. The victim was left so scared she resorted to moving out for a period of time and began taking antidepressant medication. Hope appeared at Newcastle Moot Hall to be sentenced for stalking. The 41-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced to four months prison. Due to time already served, he was to be released immediately.
Marcus Jones jailed for attempted sexual assault
A predator followed a woman into a toilet and tried to strangle her during a terrifying attempted sex attack over the Christmas holidays. The woman bravely managed to fight-off Marcus Jones after he followed her into the toilet and subjected her to an attack. The victim managed to escape the toilet and raised the alarm. Jones, who had made off from the scene, was soon arrested. Police say he had sent a text to his girlfriend saying 'he'd lay in wait for the victim'. The 22-year-old was charged with false imprisonment, intentional strangulation, attempted sexual assault and assault by beating. Jones, of Witton Park, Bishop Auckland, appeared at Durham Crown Court and was sentenced to 45 months in prison.
Dean Moore jailed for breaching SHPO and possessing indecent images
A paedophile is back behind bars after he breached his court order by deleting more than 14,000 internet search entries and downloading a sick sexual image of two boys. Dean Moore was jailed for three years in 2023 after a shop worker found a picture of a young child being sexually abused on the pervert's phone. Moore had left his mobile at a shop described as being 'like a pawnbrokers' in order to secure a cash loan. When he didn't return for it, the shop took ownership of it and began deleting data but were shocked to find an image of a young boy being abused and police were called. On that phone and another device, were 22 of the most serious, category A images, 44 category B and three category C. Then in 2022, police got a referral from the National Crime Agency about communication between Moore and an undercover operative online, in which the sexual abuse of children was discussed. Newcastle Crown Court heard at the time that Moore had 'expressed a sexual interest in boys under 13 and said he had been trading pictures of a ten-year-old boy' carrying out a sex act. His house was searched and on a phone and cloud storage devices, they found 1,760 category A images, 885 category B images and 1,970 category C images. One of the accounts contained indecent images of babies aged under six months being sexually abused. Moore, who had previous convictions for similar offending, pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images and also possessing extreme pornography involving a dog. He was sentenced to three years in prison. He was also made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which banned him from communicating with children under 18 and deleting his internet history. However, Moore, of Cook Close, South Shields, proved he just can't control his sick sexual interest in youngsters. When two of his mobiles were seized by police earlier this year, it was found that Moore had deleted more than 14,000 internet search entries and had chatted to a child on Tik Tok, Newcastle Crown Court heard. An indecent image of two boys, aged between seven and nine, was also found on one of the devices, prosecutors said. During interview, Moore also admitted sending a picture of his genitals over Snapchat but there was no evidence to say it was sent to a child. The 31-year-old was locked up for 24 months after he pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), intentionally sending a photo of his genitals and making an indecent image of a child.
Adam Rose jailed for seven years for sexual assault
A man was jailed for seven years for a sexual assault in North Tyneside. Adam Rose, now 29, was locked up for sexually assaulting a woman who had been on a night out in the city. The victim-survivor had been invited to a property by people she met earlier in the evening in Newcastle city centre. The sexual assault was reported to police that morning and Rose was swiftly arrested. He denied the offence during two police interviews but was subsequently charged with sexual assault after being linked to the crime by forensic evidence. Rose, of Heaton, was found guilty by a jury following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court and was sentenced to seven years in jail.
Joseph Bramley jailed for biting police officer
A thug sank his teeth into a police officer's neck and refused to let go. Joseph Bramley was being held in custody at Forth Banks Police Station in Newcastle for biting another cop when he launched the violent attack. Newcastle Crown Court heard how the 33-year-old was told by an officer not to keep putting a blanket over his head due to safety reasons. He swore at the officer and pushed him with both hands backwards causing him to lose his balance. The court heard how Bramley then bit his neck, breaking the skin, and refused to loosen his grip. In a victim impact statement, the officer said he feared Bramley would have taken part of his neck with him if he had launched off him, due to his grip being so tight. Bramley, of Bradley Road, Prudhoe, Northumberland, was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault by beating following a trial. He was sentenced to 30 months behind bars.
Mark Craig jailed for encouraging rape of a baby
A man who encouraged the rape of a baby and an eight-year-old child was jailed. Mark Craig sent descriptive messages about sexually abusing children to a man he believed had access to young girls, including a baby. Craig, 56, sent explicit images and videos of himself and persisted to send sexually explicit to the man in February this year. But he didn't realise he was actually speaking to a police officer who was carrying out an investigation. The 56-year-old was jailed at Newcastle Crown Court following a complex police operation by officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit. Officers arrested Craig and he was charged with arrange/facilitate the commission of a child sex offence, making an indecent image of a child and distributing an indecent image of a child. He appeared at Newcastle Crown Court and pleaded guilty to all charges. Craig, from the Westerhope area, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison.
Gary Rarity jailed for theft and driving offences
Gary Rarity has been jailed for seven months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit theft, driving whilst disqualified, and driving with no insurance. His accomplice - Michael Gill - was jailed earlier in the month. Rarity did nothing to help a delivery driver who lay in the road with 'catastrophic' injuries after trying to prevent his vehicle from being stolen. He and Gill had followed the driver who was delivering parcels in the Stannington Gardens area of Sunderland. The driver left his van to deliver a parcel, only for GIll to steal his van, and hit the driver while he sped away. Meanwhile, Rarity climbed into the driver's seat of the car the criminals had been in and drove off from the scene, despite being disqualified from driving. Now the 43-year-old has been jailed for seven months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit theft, driving whilst disqualified, and driving with no insurance. Judge Stephen Earl, sentencing Rarity, called the incident 'appalling' and said Rarity 'did nothing' to help the victim, who suffered 'catastrophic harm'. Rarity, of Toward Road, Hendon, Sunderland was also banned from driving for two years and ten weeks and ordered to pay a £187 victim surcharge.
Gareth Husband jailed for dangerous driving and assault
A thug who headbutted the police officer who was trying to stop him from driving dangerously has been jailed. On June 16, Gareth Husband committed a series of 'serious offences', including common assault, ABH, and dangerous driving. Police were called to Kirkstone Avenue in Houghton-le-Spring after reports of a 'suspicious man' which turned out to be Husband, Newcastle Crown Court heard this morning. A black BMW was parked on the cul-de-sac which a police check found had no valid insurance, and a recovery truck was preparing to remove it. When Husband returned to the car after he was seen climbing into private gardens, PC Hogg shouted at him to stop. As Husband got into the driver's seat, the officer got into the passenger seat. Footage of the defendant getting into the car was shown to the court, and the judge described it as a 'shocking piece of dangerous driving,' which endangered both the police officer and neighbouring properties. Husband started to drive as PC Hogg kneeled in the driver's seat, who had told him to stop. Husband, of Kingsway, Houghton-le-Spring; was sentenced to 32 months in prison, for which he will serve half before being released back into the community. He was also handed a driving ban of 12 months and 324 days once he is released from prison, and will have to pass an extended retest before he can get back behind the wheel again.
James Richardson jailed for eight years for child sexual offences
A pervert pensioner was locked up for depraved assaults on three little girls. James Richardson was jailed for eight years at Newcastle Crown Court after a judge heard how he touched one of the youngsters under her school uniform. The 88-year-old was convicted of two offences against two girls following a trial, and pleaded guilty to another three against a third victim. Jessica Slaughter, prosecuting, explained how Richardson's offending only came to light after one of his victims told a teacher what had happened to her several years later. Richardson was convicted of offences of sexual assault of a child and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. In jailing Richardson for a total of eight years Judge Carolyn Scott said of the victims: 'I do hope the punishment I impose on you will assist them in taking away some of the trauma.'
